Broward Commissioner Kristin Jacobs. BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - On Tuesday May 6, 2014, Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs served as a panelist at the White House for the release of the third National Climate Assessment. The report, compiled by the National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee, will inform the nation about the status of our current climate, detail observed changes since the last assessment and forecast future trends.

After the formal announcement by the White House, Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, who is also a member of President Obama’s State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, gave remarks regarding local government’s responses to climate change and the National Climate Assessment’s real world value. 

“The National Climate Assessment consolidates a large body of information into chapters that can be easily digested by local government officials and staff. Often times we lack the resources to undertake such a large study, but we have a great need this technical information. That is what we base our planning and climate-related policy decisions.”

"Projects like the National Climate Assessment are crucial for moving forward with large scale solutions like the four county Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.This Compact, highlighted in the National Climate Assessment, came together in 2009 and is considered a groundbreaking agreement for an efficient path toward resiliency in the 21st century. The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact provides a platform for local governments to share information and accomplish projects on a regional scale," said Jacobs.

“Through the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact many south Florida local governments have integrated the use of sea level rise projections and climate policies in their planning documents and comprehensive plans.  We have been dealing with the challenges of sea level rise and extreme weather events some time now including; extensive coastal flooding during, extreme high tide events, beach erosion and threats infrastructure, saltwater intrusion of our drinking water aquifer, and atypical, record-breaking rainfall.  We need to think like Mother Nature does, holistically, regionally and long term," said Commissioner Jacobs.  "We must also focus on what we can do individually. If we look at what is happening in our own backyard, there is much we can do."
 
Broward County has created programs like Naturescape Broward which, for example, help homeowners, businesses and schools understand how to use water and resources efficiently by planting native trees and plants. 

"Despite the enormous challenges we will face from climate change, it is not all doom and gloom. Having resources like the National Climate Assessment provides local government with an important tool we can use to plan and take action so that we can adapt and become more resilient to the effects of Climate Change," said Jacobs.

Commissioner Jacobs has prioritized working together with other government entities to make solutions a reality. 

“With leaders like President Obama, Senator Whitehouse and Senator Nelson leading on Climate Change at the national and international levels, it is up to us to get their backs. We need to help them make the case by provide local examples of what we are experiencing due to Climate Change. Action is taking place and the work is happening.  Climate change is not an inevitable doom and gloom situation, but sea level rise, salt water intrusion, the mixing of pollutants in our fresh water supply, global warming, is happening and we must plan and take action now. We will move forward and do what we need to do and I for one am proud to be here to do it.”

Commissioner Jacobs was joined by Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator along with experts from science, business and communities from throughout the United States.